Pneumatic suction apparatus



Patented July 2, i939.

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nnnnnvv nrrnnn, or LYNN, MassAoHUsnTTs, AssIGNon To "UNITED stron raac-rtnnn conronnrroir, or' re'rnnson, 'anw JERSEY, A coRPonaTroN or NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC SUCTXN .APPARAIS Application, filed May 9, 1224. Serial No. 712,118.

lhis invention relates to pneumatic apparatus, and in some respects more particularly to suction apparatus tor removing dust, dirt, chips, and any other small light particles and depositing; them in a receptacle. For brevity, the substances, uf'hatever they may he, will loe hereinafter referred to as dirt, but thisterm will not be intended to exclude any substance apable ot being' removed and deposited atoresaid.

',lhe inif'ention may be used tor cleaningpurposes or for removing` dirt from a par ticular locality in or adjacent to a machine tor operating upon the substance trom which the dirt is produced, For purposes of illustration the accompanying drawings show a suction apparatus embodying' the invention .in a preferred torni designed for and applied to a machine for trimming surplus materials from the inseams ot shoes in process ot manufacture and in this application the function of the suction apparatus is to remove the cuttings or triinn'iings, the dust,

`lint and other particles (hereinafter reterred to inclusively as dirt) trom the trimming locality their deposit. i

Au object of the invention is to provide an :improved machine comprising' means 'for performing an operation that produces dirt or dust, and means tor automatically collecting' such dirt and depositing it into a receptacle Without recourse to elalfiorate-i and costly blower systems.

Accordingly, a feature et the invention consists in an integral or unitary machine organization comprising a trame supporting some means for performing' an operation that produces dirt, and suction apparatus supported or carried hy the trame and including-a" a detachable receptacle into which the dirt transferred 'trom said means" by pneumatic suction, the recel'itacleheingr oil"` set laterally from the traine to be readily accessible. so that one attendant may easily and quickly detach the `lilled receptacle and carry it to a place Where it is to be emptied.

In the illustrated construction the dirtreceptacle is given as large dimensions and capacity as is consistent with the ability of the average Workman to litt 1t Without undue strain. Furthermore, to make the task` ot' attaching and detachinnv the receptacle as easy as possible prov1s1on 1s made torens pendingv 1t from that oart` of the suction apto a receptacle provided tor' paratus which is hereinafter referred to as a dirt-separator and the latter, moreover,

is not only supported by the traine olf the machine, but is olliset laterally trom the frame. Thus, the invention provides an unobstructed space in which a workman may stand so that he may, Without the help of ail assistant, lift the receptacle up o1' doivn incidentally to attaijzhing or detachinc; it.

Another object oi. the invention is to provide improved means for insuring' a tight connection between two contiguousmembers each of which is adapted to torm a closure tor the other, for example, a dirt-separator and a dirt-receptaclefr Yfeature relating` to this aspect of the invention consists in proriding; the members to `be connected with a plurality of pairs of cooperative coupling elements formed and arranged to exercise a tightening' action sinniltancously in consequence ot relatively moving the members, and further, in infoviding` for individual adjustment oit one ormore ot said coupling elements to coordinatethe tightening effect ot all the pairs so that they Will function unitormly. i

Other features of the invention are hereinafter described and claimed and are shown by the accompanyin,ea drawings.

Referring' to the drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation inchulinn" a `portion of an inseam-trimming' machine ot wellknown construction, and a suction apparatus for taking' away the dirt from the trimming' locality,` the suction apparatus embodying novel features of construction and organi- Zation with which the invention is concerned;

Fig'. 2 is a sectional view through the dint-receptacle as indicatedyby hne 2-2 ot Fin'. l; 1

Fin'. 8 is an `elevation on a larger scale including' abutting portions ol the dirt-separator and the dut-receptacle and one of a plurality ot pau'sot coupling elements by which the separator' and the receptacle may the dust, lint, chips, and other particles prol shown lOl) .-lt'ion.

`ments of ymechanism are mounted on and rduced incidentally to the trimming operation, may be regarded as dirt to be removed from the trimming locality by suc- The cutter and various `other elesupported by a head 14 which, in turn, is mounted at the upper end of the frame or supporting column 16.

The suction apparatus for removing the dirt from the trimming locality includes a rotary fan or blower 18 (Fig. 1) the easing of whichis preferably fastened rigidly to the frame 16. A suction conduit extends from the dirt-producing localityn12 to the suctiongenerator 18, and comprises a dirt pipe 20 rigidly fastened to the head 14 and V.havingv a receiving nozzle 22, lan annular d1rt-separator 24 offset laterally from the frame 16 to berr readily accessible, and a pipe 28 forming.communication from said separator to the` casing of the fan or blower 11.8..y The `discharge portion of the blower casing is indicated at 30.

' A screen 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) of tine wire i gauze is arranged in the separator 24 to prevent the dirt from passing to .the pipe 28.

. The separator 24 is open at the bottom but Ais supported'at a sufficient height above the V-itloor on which the frame 1-6 stands to provide an unobstructed and readily accessible space beneath it for the reception of a cylindr'ic dirt-receptacle 26. The latter is open at the'top and is constructed to cooperate withfthe separator 24 to. form an air-tight joint below the path ofthev air. The separator 24 and' the receptacle are thus adapted to form closures foreach other. The larger particles of dirt that enter the separator 24 drop immediately into the receptacle 26, although some of the tine dirtis carried to the screen 32 by the current of air but is arrested by the screen and eventually drops into the receptacle 26 which is' 'directly `underthe screen. The 'vibration produced .'by the trimming mechanism dislodges much of the fine dirtthat is Vcarried to the screen by the vforce of the suction, but whatever clings to the screen may be dislodged by stopping the blowerand tapping the separator 24.

The dirt separator 24 and the receptacle 26 are made as two separable members to permit the latter to be detached from time to time as it becomes necessary to empty the dirt-that has accumulated therein, but it essential to maintain a substantially airtight join Abetween them when the suction apparatus is in use. It has been found that the most desirable size for the receptacle 26 is adepth of .about two and one half feet and a diameter of VVnearly two feet, since a larger sizev would be too cumbersome to be handled easily while a smaller size would require .emptying at too frequent intervals.

, The body yof the receptacle 26 is preferably made of thin sheet metal (Fig. 4) for economy and to avoid excessive weight, but its upper edge or rim is preferably arranged between and reinforced by relatively thick and rigid cast metal rings 34 connected by rivet-s or screws. Thickness and rigidity of the rings 34 are desirable to provide for a substantially air-tight joint between the separator 24 and the receptacle 26. The separator 24 is preferably made of cast metal to insure rigidity and strength.

As shown by Fig. 4, a fiat ring or gasket 36 is interposed between the confronting surfaces of t-he separator 24 and the receptacle 26 to provide for an air-tight joint. This gasket may be made of any suitable material, leather for example, and is preferably secured to the separator 24. Figs. l and 4 show screws 38 for holding the gasket. The heads of the screws are countersunk in the gasket so as not to militate against a tight joint.

To avoid disturbing the suction apparatus incidentally in detaching and attaching the receptacle 26 the separator 24 is supported otherwise than by thel receptacle. Accordingly, a supporting bracket 4t) 1 and. 2) is rigidly fastened to the column 16 by suitable means such as bolts 42, and is formed with sockets or bearingsl to receive a vertical post 44. The separator 24 is provided with a bracket 46 in which sockets or bearings are formed to receive the post 44. Set-screws 48 (Fig. 1) are arranged in the the bracket 40 and set-screws 50 (Fig. l) are arranged in the bracket 46 to engage the post. The brackets 40 and 46 otlset the separator 24 and the receptacle 26 laterally from the frame 16 of the machine far enough to enable one workman or attendant to stand. so close to the receptacle that he may easily lift it up or down and quickly attach or detach it. Thus, the location of the separator permits the use of a large receptacle without requiring two workmen to handle it and without imposing undue strain upon one workman.

These elements provide for vertical and angular adjustment of the separator 2J.- about the axis of the post, both of which adjustments are useful in registering the several elements that form the suction conduit. The vertical adjustment is useful also to compensate for vertical adjustment of the operating head 14 (Fig. 1) relatively to the column 16. For example, a tall operator would prefer to adjust the head 14 to a relatively high position while a short operator would prefer to set it at a lower position. The column 16 has a kerf or cleft in its rear side (the right side as viewed in Fig. 1) and is provided. with clamping bolts 52 by wihch it may be tightened to clamp the neck 54 of the machine-head which neck has a telescopic tit in the column.

Furthermore, the suction conduit 28 and lll) lill) the sleeve portion 56 of the blower-casing are i'ormed to provide a telescopic joint so that elements of the suction apparat-us p artako ont vertical adjustments of the head 111 the telescopic joint formed by the elements 28 and 56 maintains the integrity of the suction conduit.

`The means shown 'for maintaining the rcceptacle 26 in cooperative relation to the separator 211 comprises a plurality oi pairs of coupling elements, three such pairs being shown in Fig. 2. VEach pair comprises a bracket 60 and a lug 62. The three brackets 60are fastened individually to the separator 24 While the lugs 62 are 'fastened to the rings 34 at the upper end of the receptacle 26. Each lug 62 has a screw-threaded shank 64; (Fig. L1) that extends through the rings 311 and is provided with a. nut 66 to tighten it. The lugs 62 4project radially from the outer ring 34 and are arranged to oi'ferlap and rest upon shoulders 68 formed on 'the brackets 66. These shoulders 68 extend inwardly, that is, toward the axis ot the receptacle 26. The receptacle 26 may be coupled `to the separator 211 by lifting it, while the lugs 62 are out of register with the bracket 60, until it touches or nearly touches the gasket 36, and then turning it about it-s'aXis to place the lugs 62 upon the supporting shoulders 68. The receptacle 26 is thus suspend-ed :trom the separator 211. To provide for mali` ing the joint substantially air-tight the supporting shoulders`68 are inclined as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Simultaneous tightening by all the couplers :is obtained by turning the receptacle 26 so that the lugs 62 will move toward the upper ends of the inclined shoulders 68 until the turning movement is ar rested by the butting of the rings 341 againstl the gasket 36.

Since it is practically impossible to inachine the parts ot so large a receptacle accurately enough. to make the joint uni'lorinly tight at all points the invention provides adjustments by which inaccuracies maybe counteracted. Accordingly provision is made 'for adjusting the brackets 60 individually so that if one of them does not tighten the joint to the same extent as another it may be adjusted to correct the faulty condition. The brackets 60 are therefore fastened by bolts 70 which extend through holes '72 (Fig. t) in the brackets and are screwed into the separator 2li. The holes 72 aie larger than the shanks oi the bolts 76,.as shown in Fig. t, to provide the necessary range of adjustment. When once the several brackets 60 have been adjusted to function equally and simultaneously as the receptacle 26 is `turned to `.tighten the joint no subsequent adjustment will be necessary since they will operate repeatedly as desired regardless ot the number of times the receptacle 26 is detached and replaced, provided it is always replaced in the same position. j

` Any desired lmeans may be provided to indicate a definite standard position in which to replace the receptacle 26. For example, a

markinay be stamped or painted on its exterior to register with some mating mark or element of the separator 24. Stlll, since it is` desirable to provide the receptacle 26 with two handles 74 byivhich to carry and turn it and to locate these handles at diametrically opposite points the handles will serve as well as anything to indicate the standard position of the receptacle.

Although the lower portion oi.I the column 16 is omitted from the drawing it is to be understood that it maintains the bottom oi' the receptacle 26 ata considerable distance above: the l'loor on which the machine stands.`

Consequently, when the receptacle 26 is turned to release the coupling it may be lowered tar enough to clear the brackets 66 when it is being carried away.` The lower endsof theincliiied shoulders 66 are pi.'ei"erably formed with upturned extremities 'T6 to prevent the lugs 62 from slipping oilI acci dentally.

The described construction is such that the frame of the trimming machine supports the suction apparatus and the dirtreoeptaclc in cooperative relation to the trimming` means and maintains this relation even when the machine is moved fromplace to place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:`

\ 1. The combination with a machine having a dirt-producing instrumentality and a trame in which it is arranged, of a suction apparatus comprising a suction geeni'ator, a suction conduit extending 'l'i'oin the dirt-prf ducing locality to said generator, a dirt- `separator interposed in said conduit, to prevent line dirt from reaching said generator, said dirt separator being fastened to and supported by said frame and oil'set laterally there-trom to provide an unobstructed .space beneath it and being open at the bottoni, a portable dirt-receptacle open at the top and adapted to occupy said space, said separator and said receptacle having cooperative portions adapted to iorni an air-tight joint, and mea-iis for supporting said receptacle in said space in cooperative relation to said separator.

2. A suction apparatus comprising a ointforming separator and receptacle, a plurality of lugs projecting from one of the aforesaid elements, and a plurality olf' coupling members al'lixed to the other one, said lugs and said coupling members being formed llO andiarranged to be interengaged by relatively turning the receptacle and separator, said coupling,` members having inclined surfaces Yfor acting on said lugs to tighten the van operation that produces dirt, and suction apparatus supported by said frame, said apparatus including a suction-operated dust separator into which fine dirt from said means is transferred by pneumatic suction, and a receptacle detachably suspended from said separator'to receive fine dirt arrested by the latter, 4said separator being` offset lla'terallyfrom said frame to facilitate attaching and detaching said receptacle.

v4, A suction apparatus comprising supporting means adapted to stand on a floor, apneumatie suction conduit including a dirt-separator supported by said means at a considerable height above the floor level to provide an unobstructed space under it, a dust arrester in said separator, and a receptacle of large capacity adapted to go into said space, said separator and said receptacleV being formed with communicatingopenings for the passage of dust and coarse dirt and having a plurality of pairs of cooperative disconnectible coupling elements by which the receptacle may be suspended from said separator and by which the receptacle may be tightened against the separator in consequence to turning the receptacle relatively to the separator.

5. A suction apparatus comprising supporting` means, a dirt-separator supported thereby, said separator being open at the bottom and having an unobstructed space underV it, and a receptacle open at thetop and adapted to go into said space, said separator and said receptacle having;` a plurality of pairs of cooperative disconnectible coupling elements by which the receptacle may be suspended from said separator and by which the receptacle may be tightened against the separator in consequence of turning the receptacle relatively to the separator, one or more of said coupling elements beine' individually adjustable to coordinate the tightening` effect of all said pairs.

6. A suction apparatus comprisinga dirt-separator open at the bottom and a. dirt-receptacle open at the top 4to form a joint, suporting means to which said separater is fastened in a position to provide a space under it for said receptacle, and cooperative disconnectible coupling elements lixed respectively to said separator and said receptacle for suspending the latter, said elements beingformed and arranged to be interengaged and to tighten said joint in consequence of moving said receptacle relatively to said separator.

7. The combination, in a machine having; a frame and means supported thereby for performing an operation that produces dirt, of a pneumatic suction conduit supported by said frame to conduct the dirt away from said means, a portion of said conduit being offset laterally from said frame above a clear unobstructed space, a dirt screen arranged in said offset portion to separate tine dirt from the air by which such dirt is carried to the screen, and a readily accessible receptacle detachably suspended in said space .from the under side of said offset portion below the path of the air and under said screen to receive the ine dirt that falls from the latter.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. i

ANDRElV EPPLER. 

